Connection means for a wiper blade assembly



June 14, 1955 F. A. KROHM v 2,710,421

' CONNECTION MEANS 130R A WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan;29,1946

60 55 I 53 p [5| as a [L 1J1 I. Q 33 1 v 54 52 34 73853 1 mmvrozz.

FRED A. KROHM E 3 BY J/ 40 Mdfiw TORNEY United States Patent CONNECTIONMEANS FOR A WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY Fred A. Krohm, Hobart, Ind., assignorto Productive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indiana (Iontinuationof abandoned application Serial No.

644,120, January 29, 1946. This application September 25, 1952, SerialNo. 311,425

9 Claims. (Cl. 250) This invention relates generally to windshieldcleaner apparatus and is broadly directed to improved means forconnecting holder and cleaner assembly or unit to an operating armtherefor in a manner to support the unit in the proper operativeposition with respect to the arm.

More particularly, the invention is directed to unique means forestablishing an operative connection between the backing or holder ofthe cleaner assembly unit and the connection means employed forattaching the unit to the operating arm.

In order to obtain an efiicient cleaning action, it is desirable thatthe connection means associated with the cleaner assembly be constructedand arranged whereby to permit the assembly to properly vacillate ortilt adjacent the termination of each stroke of the operating arm sothat the cleaner portion of the cleaner means or wiping edges of thewiper means or element will intimately engage the surface of the glassto be cleaned, as exemplified in the John W. Anderson Patent No.1,931,098 dated October 17, 1933. In this patent, a portion of thecleaner means or wiper element and the connection means for attachingthe cleaner assembly to the arm are adapted for pivotal movement withrespect to the backing or holder which supports the element andconnection means.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcleaner assembly unit in which the connection means is resilientlysupported in a predetermined position by the inherent resiliency of thecleaner or wiper means whereby to permit or allow for the proper tiltingof the unit and connection means with respect to each other. Theconnection between the connection means and the resilient cleaner meansis preferably so constructed and arranged that the connection means doesnot engage the backing or holder of the assembly under normal operatingconditions. This factor is important because all noise or vibration issubstantially eliminated.

An important object of the invention is to provide latch means inconjunction with the connection means in such a manner that theresilient cleaner means or wiperelement' augment or assist inmaintaining the connection means in its predetermined normal position. a

A particular object of the invention is to provide unique connectionmeans to which different types of attachments carried by operating armsmay be attached to the connection means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly includingimproved means whereby to prevent undue tilting of the connecting meansbeyond practicable limits.

An' additional object of the invention --is to pr'ovide.

Patented June 14, 1955 ice improved methods for assembling the variousparts of the assembly together.

A further and particularly important object of the invention is toprovide an assembly in which the number of parts required to establishthe connection between the unit and connection means is reduced to aminimum, and as a consequence the conditions required for obtaining anefiicient cleaning action can be more readily controlled; andconsiderable clatter, vibration and noise are thereby substantiallyeliminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improvedconnection means and latch means which can be easily manufactured andassembled on a production basis, and when properly assembled with theholder and cleaner means will operate and function satisfactorily for aperiod exceeding the useful life of the wiping portion or edges of thecleaner means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear afterconsidering the description hereinafter set forth in conjunction withthe drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a top view of a cleaner or wiper assembly unit embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the assembly illustrated inFigure 1 applied to a windshield operating arm;

Figure 3 is a side view in elevation similar to Figure 2, with portionsof the parts comprising the assembly broken away for the purposesillustrating certain principles of design and construction;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through an appropriate part ofthe assembly illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken through an appropriate part of the assemblyillustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the latch means employed inconjunction with the connection means;

Figure 7 is a partial section of Figure 6 showing a detail of the latchmeans;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the connection means and latchmeans associated with each other;

Figure 9 is a side View in elevation of the holder means and cleanermeans, the connection means being detached therefrom; and

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view showing a different way to connectan operating arm to the connection means.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 644,120filed January 29, 1946, now aban doned.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a cleaner assembly unitcomprising a holder or backing 1 supporting resilient cleaner or wipermeans 2; connection means or a saddle 3 operatively connected to theholder and resilient cleaner means in a manner whereby to resilientlysupport the connection means in a predetermined position; a fitting 4carried by the free extremity of an operating arm 5 for attachment tothe connection means 3 for directing the unit with respect to thesurface to be cleaned; and latch means 6 operatively connected to theholder and resilient cleaner means in a manner whereby the same is heldin a predetermined position with respect to the holder means andconnection means by said resilient cleaner means for detachably lockingthe fitting and connection means together.

The backing or holder 1 may be constructed as desired but is preferablymade in the form of a channel comprising a pair of corresponding spacedside walls 7 joined together by a base wall 8. The cross-sectional shapeof each side wall is preferably in the form of an ogee curve. Each wallmay include a circular portion 9 and a circular outwardly flared portion10, the latter of which provide abutments for limiting pivotal movementor flexation of the'wiping portion of. the resilient cleaner means 2.

The circular portions 9 of the holder 1 are preferably provided with apair of oppositely disposed corresponding generally rectangular openings12, a similar pair of openings 13 spaced from the openings 12, and apair of oppositely disposed corresponding generally rectangularapertures 14 arranged intermediate the pairs of openings 12 and 13. Theapertures are preferably located closer to the openings 13 than openings12 and are somewhat smaller in size as compared to said openings. Eachof the openings 12 and 13 is preferably defined by a pair oflongitudinally extending marginal edges 15 and transverse marginal edges16 and each of the apertures 14 is defined by longitudinally extendingmarginal edges 17 and transverse marginal edges 18. The material betweenthe longitudinal edges of the openings 12 and 13 adjacent the base wall8 is preferably made flat or planar in character as indicated bynumerals 19 and 20, and the same is true of the material between thelongitudinal edges of the apertures adjacent the base wall as indicatedat 21. The flat portions 19 and 20 are of the same Width whereas theintermediate fiat portion 21 is preferably of a width somewhat less thanthat of the aforesaid portions. The purpose of these openings andapertures will be described subsequently. It is to be understood thatthe character of the openings and apertures may be modified to suitvarious conditions.

The resilient cleaner or wiper means 2 preferably includes a bead-likeattaching portion 22 generally circular in cross-section, a wipingportion 23 generally triangular in cross-section, and an intermediaterestricted portion 24 uniting the portions 22 and 23 together. Theattaching portion 22 is adapted to be compressed a predetermined amountwithin the circular part of the channel holder. The intermediaterestricted portion is also adapted to be compressed to an extent betweenthe side walls of the channel whereby the wiping portion 23 is noteffected or influenced by the attaching portion. The wiping portion 23is preferably provided with a flexible lip portion 25 provided withsharply defined wiping edges 26 which are adapted to normally engage thesurface to be cleaned. The converging sides of the wiping portion areprovided with auxiliary wiping edges or arrises 27 which may undercertain conditions be caused to engage the surface to be cleaned. Thearrangement is such that the wiping portion 23 and lip 25 may vacillate,pivot, or flex with respect to each other and respect to the holder 1adjacent the terminations of the strokes of the cleaner operating arm asdepicted in Figure 5, and in accordance with the disclosure in the JohnW. Anderson Patent No. 1,950,588 dated March 13, 1934, whereby to obtaina scientifically engineered combined scraper and squeegee action.

The bead-like attaching portion 22 is preferably provided with a pair ofoppositely or substantially diametrically disposed longitudinallyextending corresponding grooves 28, each groove being preferably definedby a bottom wall 29 and tapered side walls 30. These grooves improve theyieldability or flexibility of such portion. It will be noted that thegrooves are visible through the openings 12 and 13 and apertures 14 ofthe holder and preferably located substantially midway between thelongitudinal marginal edges of the openings and apertures. Thisattaching portion 22 is preferably compressed to an extent wherebyportions of the material adjacent the side walls of the grooves 28project outwardly into the open ings and the apertures to overlap atleast the longitudinal marginal edges of openings and the apertures asindicated at 31 in Figures 4 and 9.

The latch means 6 will now be described since it is adapted to beattached to the holder 1 in advance of the connection means 3. The latchmeans may be constructed as desired but is preferably formed to includean elongated outer wall 32 provided with a finger portion 33 adjacentone extremity for operating the latch and a curved hook portion 34adjacent its other extremity. The latch means also includes a pair ofcorresponding substantially parallel side walls 35 which are adapted tobe more or less guided by the inner surfaces of the side walls 36 of theconnection means 3. The edge margins of the side walls 35 are preferablyinclined as indicated at 37 to merge with the hook portion 34 so as toprovide round seats 38. The seats 38 and portion 34 are adapted tocooperate with round seats 39 formed in the side walls 36 by providingthe connection means with interruptions or notches constituting abutmentmeans for a crosspin. The seats are adapted to receive the roundcrosspin 40, the ends of which are preferably secured to the side walls41 of a part 42. The part 42 is anchored to the fitting 4 by a rivet 43,and as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, its sides 41 straddle theconnection means.

The free extremities of the side walls 35 of the latch means arepreferably provided with inturned corresponding fiat finger portions 44which are generally parallel to the outer wall 32. As clearlyillustrated in Figure 7, the longitudinal marginal edges 45 of thefingers 44 are closely related to each other to provide a relativelynarrow slot 46. The transverse and margins of the fingers 44 arepreferably curved as indicated at 47 and 48 so as to provide pilotentrances 49 and 50 adjacent the extremities of the slot whereby toassist in assembling the latch means to the holder 1.

The latch means may be easily and quickly assembled or connected to theholder by directing the latch means at an angle toward the side of theholder to cause the margins of the pilot opening 49 to engage the fiatportion 21 of the holder adjacent the apertures 14. Further movement ofthe latch in the same general direction will cause the fingers 44 tocompletely receive the portion 21, whereupon the latch is swung to theerect position illustrated in Figure 9. The fiat fingers 44 are thuscaught in between the fiat portion 21 of the holder and the resilientattaching portion 22 of the cleaner means in a manner whereby theportion 22 resiliently supports the latch and urges the same in anoutward direction to press the fingers against the inner flat surface ofthe fiat portion 21 to predetermine the position of the latch. The firstfinger to enter one of the apertures 14 during the operation ofassembling the latch to the holder actually forces or urges some of thematerial of the attaching portion 22 out into the opposite aperture 14so as to clear the way for the entry of the other finger into the holderto its proper seating position. The parts are so constructed andarranged that the latch means may be directed toward either side of theholder for assembly and either pilot opening may be used by theoperator.

The connection means 3 referred to above is adapted to be fitted overthe latch means 6 to the position illustrated in Figure 3, and as aresult constitutes a channellike housing for the latch means. The sideWalls 36 of the connection means are preferably joined together in adiverging relation by a flat outer wall 51 and a flat narrow bridgeportion 52. The side walls 36 are provided with corresponding inturnedlugs 53 located adjacent and in spaced relation to the bridge portion 52to provide an opening 54. The interruption above referred to provides agenerally L-shaped entrance opening 55, one leg of which leads to theseats 39 which are engaged by the crosspin 40. The openings 54 and 55,as will be described more in detail subsequently, provide means throughwhich a hook 56 carried by an operating arm 57 may be projected toreceive the bridge 52 to support the cleaner assembly as illustrated inFigure 10. One end extremity of the connection means 3 is provided witha pair of inturned corresponding projections 58 and the other endextremity with a similar pair of projections 59. The width of the spacebetween the projections of each pair is preferably slightly greater thanthe width of the flat or planar portions 19 and 20. These projectionsare adapted to be fitted into the oppositely disposed correspondinggrooves 28 provided in the attaching portion 22 of the resilient cleanermeans. The side walls 36 of the connection means intermediate theprojections are also preferably provided with outwardly extendingslightly offset abutment portions 60 which are adapted to normallyextend along and in spaced relation with respect to the side Walls ofthe channel holder 1 for limiting or predetermining the tilting movementof the cleaner assembly with respect to the holder, within practicablelimits, as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The side walls 36 arefurther provided with bearing portions 61 which merge into the abutments60.

The connection means may be easily and quickly connected to theresilient cleaner means by directing the connection means over the latchmeans to place the pairs of projections 58 and 59 opposite thoseportions of the grooves 28 adjacent the openings 12 and 13,respectively, whereupon the side walls 36 are pressed together to causethe projections to enter and seat in the grooves 28 and engage thebottom walls 29. It will be noted that the arrangement provides forassembling the connection means to the portion 22 in but one position.Obviously, the parts may be constructed to permit the connection meansto be assembled in either of two positions. The tapered walls 30 assistin piloting the projections to their proper respective positions. Thissuperior connection between the connection means and the resilientcleaner means provides a cushion or resilient support for the connectionmeans which functions to maintain the connection in the predeterminedposition illustrated and at the same timemore or less. assists inmaintaining the latch means in its erect position. The latch means alsoacts to influence the positioning of the connection means.

Attention is directed to the important fact that since the longitudinalmarginal edges of the openings 12 and 13 are overlapped by portions 31of the resilient attaching portion 22, that the locking projections 58and 59 are substantially prevented from engaging the said marginaledges. This feature of the construction is highly desirable for thereason that there is substantially no metal contact between theconnection means and the holder 1 during the normal operation or tiltingof the holder with respect to the connection means. As a result of thisimproved arrangement, a noiseless connection is provided, the connectionbeing such that proper tilting or oscillation of the holder with respectto the connection means is obtained while maintaining sufficientstability of the parts. It will also be manifest that the assemblypromotes the efficiency of the wiping or cleaning action by providing anadded element of resilience between the operating arm and thewindshield. Moreover, since there is a minimum of parts, the wiping orcleaning action can be scientifically controlled as compared to anassembly embodying a multiplicity of loosely fitted parts.

The abutment portions 60 provides stop means which may be alternatelyengaged by the side walls of the channel holder in those instances wherea heavy drag is placed on the resilient cleaner or wiper means duringthe cleaning operation. In other words, it is only under abnormalconditions that the holder engages the abutments. Such abnormalconditions may take place, for example, when the cleaner means isremoving heavy snow or road muck from the surface to be cleaner.

Attention is further directed to the fact that the latch means isoperable independently of the resilient connection between the channelpart of the connection means and the attaching portion 22. This factinsures a good locking action to hold the connection means connected tothe crosspin 40 carried by the fitting and also assists in maintainingthe channel part of the connection means in its predetermined normalposition in the event that the connection should inadvertently becomeless operative than intended.

The finger portion 33 of the latch is operative through the open end ofthe channel part of the connection means as clearly illustrated. Toconnect the connection means to the crosspin 40, it is merely necessaryto place the connection means in a position whereby the outer curvedsurface of the hook-portion 34 of the latch will be engaged by thecrosspin to retract the latch so that the crosspin may engage the seats39 whereupon the latch snaps back to its holding position, with theouter wall 32 of the latch engaging the inner surface of the flat outerwall 51 of the channel part. The seats 39 are preferably disposedsubstantially mid-way of the holder to provide a balanced assembly.

The side walls 41 of the part 42 carried by the fitting 4 are preferablyspaced apart to the extent whereby the inner surfaces of the walls willengage the bearing portions 61 provided on the side walls 36 of thechannel part of the connection means whereby to more or less cam thewalls 35 toward each other to provide a snug connection between the part42 and the channel part of the connection means and at the same timecause the locking projections 58 and 59 to become better seated in thegrooves 28. In other words, the connection between the connection meansand the part 42 is preferably of such character that the connectionbetween the connection means and the attaching portion 22 of theresilient cleaner means is more firmly established as depicted in Figure5. It will be noted that considerable friction between the connectionmeans and holder is eliminated due to the fact that the abutments 60normally do not engage the holder and the bearing portions are intendednot to engage the holder at any time.

As stated above, one of the objects of the invention is to provide aunique connection means which may be connected to operating armsprovided with different types of fittings or attachments. This object isaccomplished by providing the connection means with the bridge portion52 and openings 54 and 55 adjacent thereto, in such a manner that ahook-portion 56 of an attachment may be threaded into the openings toreceive the bridge portion. It will be noted that the plane of thebridge portion 52 is preferably arranged at an angle with respect to theouter flat portion 51, the object being that the hook 56 must be firstinserted through the opening 55.

It is to be understood that insofar as the subject invention isconcerned, it is immaterial whether the holder or backing 1 is of theparticular cross-sectional shape illustrated. It is also to beunderstood that the resilient cleaner or wiper means 2 may beconstructed other than illustrated. The assembly may be constructed andarranged in any desirable manner whereby the operation of the connectionmeans and latch means may be influenced by the inherent resiliency ofthe cleaner means, or all resilient means engaged by locking projectionsmay be omitted without departing from one of the important objects ofthe invention. That part of the attaching portion 22 of the wiper meanswhich cooperates or acts on the components of the connection meansserves a function different from the remaining parts or portions ofattaching portion 22 so that in effect that part which coacts with theconnection means may be considered resilient means as distinguished fromthe remainder of the wiper means. It is to be further understood thatthe term predetermined position as used in the foregoing description andappended claims is intended to define a predetermined range or are ofmovement or any position within such range.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various othermodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, andcombinations of parts herein except as shown, and defined in the claimsdescribed.

I claim:

l. A windshield cleaning device comprising a support having a wall,cleaner means and resilient means carried by said support disposed onone side of the wall, and arm connection means and latch means thereforrespectively operatively related to said support and bearing againstsaid resilient means in a manner whereby said resilient means may becaused to influence the operative positions of said latch means and saidconnection means.

2. A cleanin device comprising an elongated support having a backportion and side portions to form a channel, a resilient element havingattaching means seated in the support and an exposed wiping portion, anopening in the support providing access to a portion of the attachingmeans, movable locking means having an inner portion disposed betweenthe back portion and the accessible portion of the attaching means, saidlocking means also having an outer portion for locking purposes, thearrangernent being such that when the locking means is manual- 1y movedthe inner portion of the locking means will cause a portion of theattaching means to yield.

3. A windshield cleaning device comprising a support, resilient cleanermeans carried by said support, and connection means and latch meansrespectively operatively related to said support and bearing againstsaid cleaner means in a manner whereby said cleaner means may be causedto influence the operative positions of said latch means and saidconnection means.

4. A windshield cleaning device comprising a channel support, resilientcleaner means having an attaching portion received in the support and awiping portion, said support being constructed to provide access to aportion of the attaching portion, and an elongated member provided witha pair of means extending transversely thereof into bearing relationshipwith the accessible portion for resiliently supporting the memberindependently of the support.

5. A windshield cleaning device comprising an elongated channel support,resilient means seated in the support and Wiping means carried by andextending from said support, openings provided in the support, and armconnection means and latch means therefor each having at least a portionextending through an opening and bearing against said resilient meansfor supporting the connection means and latch means for movementthereon.

6. A windshield cleaning device comprising a support, cleaner means andresilient means carried by said support,

connection means carried by said resilient means, and

latch means cooperable with the connection means for holding an enteringpart of an arm therebetween, said latch means having a portion securedbetween a portion of said support and said resilient means in a mannerwhereby said resilient means may be caused to influence the operativeposition of said latch means.

7. The structure defined in claim 2, in which the relationship betweenthe inner portion of the locking means, the back portion of the supportand the said accessible portion of the attaching means of the resilientelement is such that the locking means may be moved in a planetransverse to the longitudinal axis of the device or in a planeperpendicular to said transverse plane.

8. A cleaning device comprising an elongated support having a backportion and side portions to form a channel, a resilient element havingattaching means seated in the support and an exposed wiping portion, anopening in the support providing access to a portion of the attachingmeans, movable locking means having an inner portion disposed betweenthe back portion and the accessible portion of the attaching means, saidlocking means also having an outer portion for locking purposes, thearrangement being such that when the locking means is manually moved theinner portion of the locking means will cause a portion of the attachingmeans to yield, and a connector carried by the device having abutmentmeans thereon adapted to cooperate with the said outer portion of thelocking means for detachably holding an entering part of an armtherebetween.

9. A cleaning device comprising an elongated support having a backportion and side portions to form a channel, a resilient element havingattachaing means seated in the support and an exposed wiping portion, anopening in the support providing access to a portion of the attachingmeans, movable locking means having an inner portion disposed betweenthe back portion and the accessible portion of the attaching means, saidlocking means also having an outer portion for locking purposes and ahandle adjacent the outer portion for manipulating the locking means,the arrangement being such that when the locking meansis manually movedthe inner portion of the locking means will cause a portion of theattaching means to yield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

